AVX establishes the Marshall D. Butler Distinguished Endowed Professorship of Finance at CCU
The new professorship has been awarded to Marvin Keene, assistant professor of finance at Coastal. Keene earned a Ph.D. from Florida State University and joined the Wall College in 2004. He has been published in the Journal of Financial Research, and he serves as the faculty adviser for the CCU chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, an honor society for accounting and finance students.
Butler, of New York City, served as CEO and chairman of AVX Corporation, the Myrtle Beach-based electronic components manufacturer, from 1973 until his retirement in 1993. Butler is credited with leading the company to its dominant position in the worldwide production and sales of ceramic and tantalum capacitors. He advanced the use of market research and the expansion of operations to Europe and Asia.
AVX Corporation has a long history with significant industrial influence in Horry County. In 1990 the company merged with the major Japanese electronics company Kyocera Corporation, which owns 70 percent of AVX's outstanding shares. AVX operates 20 manufacturing facilities located in 12 countries and maintains five research and development centers. Markets served include automotive, consumer, data processing, medical and telecommunications.
Prior to his association with AVX, Butler led Alloys Unlimited, a sub components manufacturer for the semiconductor industry. After his retirement from AVX, Butler began another successful career in the venture capital industry, primarily in Israel. In recognition of his efforts, Butler received the Prime Minister's Award in 1998 for his achievements in bringing capital to Israel. In 2000, he received an honorary doctorate from Technion University, Israel's leading engineering institution.
Butler is a graduate of the prestigious Bronx High School of Science and received a Bachelor of Science degree from New York University in 1950. He is on the Board of Governors of Technion University, the New York State Council for Humanities, the Association of Resident Theatres of New York City and the Jewish Community Relations Council. He and his wife, Marilyn, have four children.